10 Things I wish I woulda...

As I have spent a few hours/days/weeks/months practically sitting around trying to get better I have thought up a list of things I wish I woulda done before my time sitting around started.



1. I woulda had my bathrooms clean. Like super clean. AND I woulda taught my boys (all four of them) the best way to clean a toilet. Im just sayin'.

2. I woulda packed my freezer full of frozen meals. I mean having meals brought in by friends and family is super great. But after a while you start to feel guilty. I really could cook, but it woulda been nice.

3. I woulda told all my kids that there is no sports for any of them. Its my turn for the world to revolve around me. And if I am not running them everywhere, It totally can revolve around me. :)

4. I woulda saved a bunch of money. Not for paying for this whole ordeal, but so I can shop online totally guilt free.

5. I woulda had a pedi the day before! That way, my sad foot started off looking way cuter.

6. I woulda totally have had a seat installed in my shower. I mean using a make-shift seat was fun. But I woulda rathered have the real deal.

7. I woulda totally planned to do it right after the two week seven state trip was over! The handicap parking was great and so was the rides in the wheelchairs, but you know. I totally coulda had more fun.

8. I woulda had a ton of craft projects and supplies ready to go. Like I coulda had so much more fun if I had lots and lots of glue sticks and MORE ribbon!

9. I woulda had a hair appointment right before my pedi. Could you imagine how much better I woulda felt with new highlights!

10. I woulda asked someone else to get hurt. It makes me so frowny when I have to watch another movie in the middle of the day.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Washington DC.

After the snow had mostly melted Kenny and Jenny took us to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. We drove the scenic route and took the Jamestown Ferry to get to Williamsburg. It was a fun surprise for us. We had no idea we were going to be riding on a ferry that day. Adam and the kids got out and explored while we were on the water. It was really fun. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever.

On the Jamestown Ferry.

The kids loved it!

The kids at Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens has a special Christmas Lights theme during the winter. It was fun for the kids to ride the rides and see so many cool lights and decorations. They even had little huts everywhere that included picnic tables with heated seats!! Pretty cool for cold Moms, Dads and Grandmas.

That's Breeley flying by!

Cute kids

Happiness!

Addison and Breeley had fun riding on the rides.

Breeley, Adam and I rode on the sky ride to see all the Christmas Lights! We waited until dark to get the full effect. When we got to the line it was 40 cold

minutes long. That was way too long to stand in the cold. So I pulled the handicap card and rode my scooter to the exit to see if we could get on there. Yup! They put us right on. No waiting. At least I was good for something on the trip. :)

A blurry picture of a few of the lights.

It really was fun to see so many lights throughout the park.

The day after Busch Gardens, we drove to Washington DC.

We spent two days touring the many museums and monuments and memorials.

Pentagon next exit!

Even though the kids look a little rough from a long car ride, this is a really cool picture.

Hagen being funny with the capitol.

Here we are in front of the capitol.

Closer to the capitol.

Kenny and Breeley were having too much fun!

Breeley with Dorothy's Ruby Slippers. At the Smithsonian of American History.

Pretty stinkin' neat.

Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch. A funny story about this watch. They just discovered in 2009 that there are engravings on the inside by the people who fixed it for him. He had no idea the repairmen had engraved inside it.

Abell at the Washington Monument.

Hagen

Addison

and Breeley.

The White House is behind them.

This is the World War II monument. I believe Adam told me that each of these gold stars represents 10 soldier that died during the war. It was amazing.

At the Lincoln Monument!!!

Addison standing next to his Birthday Buddy. Addison loves Abraham Lincoln! It was super neat to be able to take him here. Addison was so happy!

Part of the Vietnam War Memorial. This was special to us because Papa served in Vietnam. We are so thankful his name is not on the wall.

The sunset that welcomed us back to Norfolk.

We had an amazing two days in Washington DC.

and an amazing day in Williamsburg.

We are so thankful that we were able to take the kids on this trip. It was so much fun to be with Kenny and Jenny for Christmas. But to be able to take the kids to see so many things on the east coast was just amazing.

Kentucky (State #1)

North Carolina (State #2)

South Carolina (State #3)

Georgia (State #4)
Virginia (State #5)

Maryland (State #6)

Washington DC (#7)

We are so blessed!

Thanks Kenny and Jenny for letting us crash your Christmas and keeping us so entertained. It was the best ever and we miss you guys so much!

Christmas in Virginia

After leaving Charleston we drove up to Norfolk Virgina (State #4). It was about a six hour drive but we had a lot of fun. The kids were good to keep themselves entertained with everything they had packed in their backpacks. We were all really excited to get to Norfolk!
Our Christmas gift to the kids was the trip. Which they were all very happy with. But we assured them that santa would find them in Virginia. Since we had spent the week in a hotel with no Christmas tree and while we were doing things in warm South Carolina we didn't really see many Christmas decorations. It was kinda hard to feel like it was Christmas time. It felt so much like a vacation. While we were driving to Virginia, we were talking about we were going to do when we got there and Addison said... "Santa is coming tonight? Like we get there and will go to sleep and santa will come tonight?" It was really funny that he didn't realize it was Christmas Eve.
Kenny and Jenny had a fun Christmas eve planned. There was the Perkins family there, an elderly sister from their ward and the missionaries to spend time with. Jenny had a ton of fun food to eat. Then we watched a video the missionaries brought and Kenny read a neat story Jenny had found.
The kids opened their traditional Christmas eve gifts of pajama's and were tucked into bed.

It was perfect!

Santa did find us!

Look at all those stockings!
Hagen received Fifa 11. Can you tell he was excited?

Addison received a new DSi.

He was kinda happy!

Addison and Breeley received new hoodie jackets.

They were so happy, they danced!

Addison received Super Scribblenauts. He was pretty excited!

Hagen received new Strikers Warm-ups and new goalie gloves.

He was really surprised and happy!

Addison received a new encyclopedia.

It's an encyclopedia of science.

Breeley opened her biggest present first...

She danced!

She ran around in circles!

and then did it all again!

When she recieved her new American Girl doll.

She loved her.

Abell was surprised when he opened his present.
.

He recieved a guitar.

Breeley loves "Sophie"!

She is figuring out her earings.

Abell loved playing his guitar all day!

Oh look, she is holding the doll.

Adam and Abell had a great day spending time together.

Addison loved hanging out all day too!

And this my dear friends, is the last time she held the doll.

We spent the day hanging out playing with the new toys and spending time with Kenny, Jenny, Kenyon and Beckam. Later that night Kathy flew in. We were all really excited for her to get there. It was a great day.

Christmas night it started to snow.

(It doesn't snow in Norfolk Virginia)

It snowed almost all day the next day.

It was crazy.

They canceled church!

The entire city shut down.

It was crazy.

We spent the next couple days relaxing and just spending time together.

It was super fun!